"It might ha' been ours, it might ha' been ours!" he said, over and over again, till Mrs. Seymour was quite beside herself.
"Tell me, Jem," said Meg gently. "Have you found Dickie?"
He nodded.
"Was he being hurt?" she asked again.
He nodded again.
"How?"
Jem shivered.
"How I shall never tell to mortal being!" he exclaimed; "but it was something they are doing to his eyes."
"His eyes?" said Meg, leaning up. "Oh, Jem, do tell me quick!"
"To make them bad, to get more money by begging," said Jem, as if the words were forced from him; "and his father's dying in the hospital, and he'll be left to their mercy!"